|
Wife, drove me and my flight gear to aircraft
getting there around 1100. By time finished loading, reinstalling the
avionics - the @$#%^ transponder wouldn't slide all the way back in an engage
the pins it was 1130 and the wind was picking up. - I figured I'd
stay low enough and out of class B airspace anyway.
I told her that she could pick me up back at the
home airport in NC if I didn't have any problem - she said I wouldn't have any
problem. Curious, I asked how did she know I wouldn't have any problem -
"Headwind" she said. Women, got to love em.
Cranked up the engine and let oil and coolant temp
rise to 120F and taxied to runup at end or runway. Everything looking
good, I restricted takeoff rpm to 5400 (6000 ft long runway), still accelerated
rapidly and lifted off. Kept it low until hitting 140 mph hoping to
maintain good cooling. However, coolant temp rose to 220F during the
circuits of the airport as I slowly climbed. I pulled the power back to
4500 rpm and the temps stabilized at 210F. Oil temp was around 185F.
Normally coolant is in syn with the oil or perhaps 5F higher. After flying
for approx 20 minutes coolant temps were at 200F, so slowly coming
down.
This is pretty much what Tracy reported when first
flying with the Renesis engine - tight engine, more power, more heat. So
it appears that this engine is much tighter. I can now maintain level
flight burning 4 gph when it used to take 5.5 gph. Can't wait until its
broken in a bit more to see what the top end is. Overhaul kit from Real
World Solutions and parts from Bruce T appear to have come together in a tight
nit engine.
But, it does appear the small cooling inlets
(which I had planned to open up a bit) are too small for the new HP being
produced (are you listening, AL {:>)?. Also, several people mentioned
after I arrived back at GooseCreek that the exhaust was deeper and
louder. Even my wife mentioned it no longer
had that "whinny" sound.
So thanks for all the well wishes from everyone,
advice, and engineering consultation on the cause. I have mailed seals to
Tracy and Bob Perkinson, so that should provide some "harder" data on the status
of the seals.
|